Method of binding books



(No Model.)

J. H.- WORKMAN. METHOD OBBINDINO BOOKS.

Patented July 14,1891'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH II. TORKB/IAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' METHOD OF BINDING BO-OKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,894, dated July 14, 1891.

Application tiled March 7J 1891. Serial No. 384,111. (No model.)

of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and use-v ful Improvements in Processes of Binding Books; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referene marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.,

This invention relates to-a new method of binding books so that when bound the books may be opened at any particular place and the pages lie perfectly iat. This object is of special importancein the case of blank books wherein accounts and other memoranda are kept, in that it will permit the person using the book to get atthe innermost portions of each page and have aiiat surface upon which to write or make the desired memoranda. I am awareVA that this object has been long sought for and that'it has in some measure been accomplished heretofore by various methods of binding, and my invention therefore relates to the particular method herein described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To illustrate my method reference is made to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates in a vertical sectional view a portion of a book bound by my new method. Fig. is a sectional view of the same.

In the drawings, let A represent the leaves of the book, which are grouped into sections a of generally five or six sheets cach.

B is a web to which the several sections are secured, the side margins being extended, and thus forming flaps b for attachment to the lids of the book.

C is the thread by which the several sections are secured to the web B.

In practicing my invention I rst take a number of sections of leaves, place them together so that the rear margins thereof, which are to constitute the back of the book, shall be on a line. and then apply a sizing b', of glue or similar material, to the edges or backs c of the several sections a.' I permit this sizing to become dry. I then apply a sizing of glue or I clamp the leaves together other suitable material to the web B and allow the sizing to dry. I then sew eachof the sections ci to the web B by means ofthe thread C, applying the edges a 4of each section a to the sized surface of the web. Vhen eachl of the sections has been severally thus secured to the web, I place the pages thus bound together again in a pressand hold them tightly together, and then apply water to the outer margin of the web B forthe purpose of slightly moisteningthe material of which the web is composed and the sizing upon its underside and upon the adjacent edge or back of each section a. While the web and rear edges of thepagesare thus slightly moistened I beat the edges, using preferably the ordinary stereotypers beatingbrush, and continue this beating until the sized edges of the sections and web firmly adhere to each other and the web is securely set in place. have become thoroughly dried andthe several sections secured to the web by the sizing I remove `the now partially-bound b ook from the press and iinish it in the usual mann-er. I am thus enabled to sew the several sections a to the web and then cause the several sections to be unitedto said web byv sizing yapplied between the web and the edge of the leaf-sections c.

In stitching each of the sections to the web Iprefer to use a single thread and loop it back and forth through the leaves of one section and lthe web almost the entire length of Y the web. However, it will bev sufficient to secure thefsection to the A web by stitches applied at several points-say at the top and bottom or the top, bottom, and central portion instead of throughout the entire length of the back. I prefer also to use glue vasa sizing; but other adhesive substances-gumarabic, for eXample-may be used.

I do not desire to limit myself to any particular material out of which to make the web, as different materials will necessarily be used for the different weights of paper and in accordance with the different uses to which the completed book will be put. Thus inmaking the lighter books I use light muslin, cheesecloth, or the like, while in binding heavier books I employ canvas, leather, or the like.

, In moistening the web after the several sec- After the sizing and the .web l IOO tions have been sewed to it care should be taken not to saturate the Web or get it too Wet. It will be sufficient to simply dampen or moisten it,l as the only purpose of applying moisture is to dampen or moisten the sizing to such an extent as to cause it to readily adhere to the adjacent web or paper sections.

It will be found that the beating on the backbcne, as hereinbefore described, will cause the web to Iill in nicely the slight depressions caused by the rounded edges of the several sections adjacent to the under side of said web and will also cause the minimum amount of sizing to work into and ll said crevices and also to thoroughly unite the said rear edges of the sections to the said web. It will also be observed that each section is separately secured by sewing to the web, so that the accidental or :intentional severing of the thread of any one section will not dismember the entire book, but will only affect the particular section. Even in this case the sizing will hold the section in position during the application of a reasonable amount of strain thereon. It will be found `that a book made in the manner herein described may be opened between 'any of its pages and lie perfectly flat, so that the extreme vinnermost edge of each page may be utilized to its fullest extent.

I have stated that I apply sizing to the edges of the several sections of leaves and also to that side of the web which is placed in contact with the said edges. This is the preferable manner of applying the sizing; but obviously, I do not limit myself to this precise method. I may, for example, 'apply the sizing only to the web or only to the edges of the leaves, or, as stated, to both, the primary object being so to place the sizing be-l fore sewing the several sections to the web that when said sections are thus sewed the sizing will be in place between the webA and said sections.

I am aware that it is not new to sew the several sections of leaves separately to the web or to several narrow bands or straps. I am also aware that it is not new to apply glue or other sizing to the backs of the leaf-seetions after the several bands or straps have been sewed to the leaves; but in such cases no sizing is placed under the band or strapthat is, between the band or strap and the leaf-sections. I am also aware that it is not the leaf-sections are secured to the web in one place by stitches and in another place by sizing.

`What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, visl. The method of binding books wherein the leaves are secured to a backing or web, which consists in first sizing one side of said web or the rear edges of the leaf-sections, or both, then sewing each section independently to said web, then applying the sizing to unite thereby the said sections to the web, and

then linishing the book in the usual manner, substantially as described. I

2. The method of -binding books, which consists in first sizing the rear edges of the several sections of leaves or pages and also one side or surface of the web, then sewing the several sections separately to said web with the sized edges adjacent to the sized surface of the web, then beating said web and the rear edges of the separate sections to cause the size to adhere to each, and finally shaping the back and otherwise iinishing the book in the usual manner, substantially as described.

3. The method of binding a book wherein the leaf-sections are separately sewed to a suitable web, which consists in applying sizing ,to the web and to the rear edges of the leaf-sections, then sewing the said sections separately to the web throughout the -entire length of the section, moistening and applying the size to unite the web and the edges of the sections, and then in finishing the book in the usual manner.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. WORKMAN. Vitnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, GEORGE W. HIGGINS, Jr. 

